Combined pyrophoric lighter and cigarette container



ay 10, 1938. v, ARONSON 2,116,963

COMBINED PYROPHORIC LIGHTER AND CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Dec. 2, 1955 INVENTOR 17 Louis VAranson @1 4, 5.902 2% PM ATTORN YS 49 a E g Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES COMBINED PYROPHORIC LIGHTER AND CIGARETTE CONTAINER Louis v. Aronson, Newark. N. 1., assignor to an Metal Works, Inc., a corporation of New Jer ApplicationDecember 2, 1935, Serial No. 52,479

scum. (0.206 414) My invention relates to a combined pyrophoric lighter and cigarette container. g

My invention has further reference to a combined device which is constructed in a novel 5 manner so that movement of the pyrophoric lighter fuel casing with respect to the cigarette container opens the latter for the removal of'a cigarette.

My invention; has further reference to pyrol phoric lighter mechanism arranged in a novel manner with respect to a cigarette container so as to be efilciently utllizable as a smokers article.

. Various other objects, advantages and charac teristics of my invention will become apparent l fromthe following detailed description.

My invention resides in the combined device, pyrophoric lighting mechanism, features, comblnations and arrangements of thecharacter here.- inafter describedand claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: i i

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the combined device with the cigarette container in open position; l i

Fig. 3 is afront elevational view, partly in seea tion, showing the combined device with the cigarette container in open position; 1

Fig. 4 is a transverse verticalsectional view. partly in elevation, and is taken on the line of Fig. 3; and i a Fig. 5 is an enlarged, transverse horizontal sec- I tional view, partly in plan, and istaken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Referring to the drawing, 0 represents a cigm arette container or casing and Cl represents a fuel casing for a pyrophoric lighter, these two casings being associated in the manner hereinafter described. r i i The cigarette container C comprises a base sec- 45 tion I and a cover section. 2, these two sections.

being of similar square or rectangular receptaclelike configuration as shown. The cover section 2 is pivoted to the base section l along those ad jacent edges thereof which are removed'to the 50 greatest extent from the fuel casing Cl. To this end, any suitable arrangement may be utilized such, for example, as illustrated wherein thebase' section I comprises a plurality of spaced ears Ia and the cover section 2 comprises a'similar set of as spaced ears 2a, these earsbeing provided with passages which maybe alined as shown for the reception of a pivot rod 3. h

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,-a retaining member- 4 is disposed interiorly of the cigarette con- I tainer C, this member 4 being provided with an 5 car 44: provided with a passage through which the rod 3 passes whereby the member 4 has free pivotal connection on said rod 3. Immediately adjacent one side of the ear 4a, the rod} is exposed so that a spring 5 may be coiled therearound, one end of this spring I engaging the member 4 and the other end of; said spring engaging the cover section 2 as shown. This spring 5, therefore, has a dual function. It effectively biases the member. 4 toward the base section 1 l5 as indicated in Fig. 2 and it also tends to bias the cover section 2 toward open position as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown in Fig. 5, the base section I com:- prises a lateral section lb and the cover section 2 comprises a similar lateral section 2b. these two lateral sections formingthat wall surface of the cigarette container C which is opposite the pivotal connection formed by the rod 3. Asillustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the fuel casing Cl comprises a wall 6 which is disposed in generally parallel relation with respect to the aforesaid lateral sections lb and 2b when they are closed upon each other. However, this wall 6 does not directly engage said lateral sections lb and-211 inasmuch as said wall 6, on all sides thereof, termlnates in lateral flanges 6a which extend closely adjacent the aforesaid lateral sections lb and 2b of the container C. l

Further as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, a clamp 1 is soldered or otherwise. suitably secured to the exterior surface of the casing wall 6, this clamp comprising an angular section Ia which extends loosely through a slot formed in the adjacent lateral section lb, said angular section latermlnating in hook sections 1b, Fig. 4, which are clamped around a spring rod 8 disposed at one side of the lateral section lb.- As clearly shown in Fig. 3, therod 5 is of bow configuration and is disposed in engagement. with the angular section lb only at opposite sides of the clamp .I. l

The spring rod 8 tends to 'keep the casingCl seated upon the angular sections lb and 2b of the casing C in the manner shown by the full lines in Fig. 5. However, the casing Cl may be moved manually in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 5, as shown by the broken lines, the rear flange id pivoting at 8b on the adjacent surface of the lateral section lb. In so dolng,the spring bar 4 is straightened to some extent. When the manas ual pressure is removed, said spring bar 8 returns.

to its illustrated position and reseats the casing Cl as shown by the full lines in Fig. 5. If necessary, the outer surface of the'angular section lb may carry spaced stabilizing lugs I'c which are disposed in alinement and form fixed stops with which the aforesaid rear flange 6a engages during the above described pivotal movement of the casing Cl.

As shown on the drawing, the outer surface of the aforesaid angular section 2b has a plurality of spaced latching lugs 2c secured thereto and projecting therefrom. When the cover section 2 is in closed position as shown in Fig. 5, the latching lugs 2c are engaged by the interior surface of the front flange 6a of the casing Cl. Accordingly, with the parts positioned as just described, the cover section 2 of the container C is latched in closed position.

When the container Cis to be opened, the combined device is supported in one hand of the user in such manner that the cover section 2 is free to move to open position. Thereupon, the casing Cl is manually operated to move the same with respect to the container C in such manner that the rear flange '00. thereof pivots at 6b. In so doing, the front flange 8a of the casing Cl moves to such position that it is disengaged from the latching lugs 20 of the cover section 2. When this happens, the spring I automaticallyswings the cover section 2 to open position.

. As soon as the container C has been opened as Just described, the manual pressure previously exerted on the casing Cl is removed whereupon said casing Cl, under the influence of the spring bar 8, returns to its normal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the cover section 2 is returned to its closed position, the inclined surfaces of the latching lu'g's 2c engage the lower edge of the casing front flange 6a and move the casing Ci slightly by a camming action so as to permit the cover section 2 to return to its fully closed position. 'As soon as said cover section 2 thus returns to the position last noted, the casing Cl returns to its normal positionyas shown by the full lines in Fig. 5, so that the coversection 2 of the container C is latched in'its closed position.-

Pyrophoric lighting mechanism of any suitable character may be associated with the above described fuel casingCl. A preferred form of such mechanism and a preferred way of arranging the same on the casing Cl is herein-shown. Thus, as illustrated, the fuel casing Cl comprises outer walls I and I related to each other at right angles so as to form a corner of the combined device.

. The fuel casing Cl also comprises a wall H which isdisposed in parallel relation with respect to the wall I and which, further, is arranged at right angles to the wall it. However, as shown, the wall H is-stepped or disposed inwardly of the outer surface of the container CI soas to form an oflset recess for the reception of the lighting mechanism per se.

A pair of wall surfaces i2, l2a upstand from the aforesaid wall H, these wall surfaces being disposed substantially in parallel relation and supporting an axle pin upon which'a snuifer lever it is mounted for free pivotal movement. The

wall II has a wick tube l5 secured thereto substantially at right angles, this wick tube, therefore, being disposed within the chamber. formed by the wall surfaces i2, i2a and said wick tube receiving the outer end of a wick l6 which extends to the interior of thefuel casing Ci where it is surrounded by suitable material H for absorbing the fuel which is introduced into said fuel casing Cl when the cap l'la is removed. The lever H, at its free end, carries a snuffer cap which is adapted to coact with and seal the wick tube IS.

A pair of side-by-side wheels l8 and I! are freely rotatable on the axle pin l3, the wheel i8 being a wheel having a serrated outer surface and the wheel i9 being a ratchet wheel, these wheels being suitably secured totether for movement as a unit. Coactable with the serrated wheel I! is a pyrophoric element 20 which partly projects from a tube 2| extending through the fuel casing Cl, said tube 2| containing a spring 22 which is maintained under compression by a cap member 23 so as to bias the pyrophoric element 2| into engagement withv the serrated wheel ll. As clearly appears from a consideration of Fig. 3, the serrated wheel l8 and the pyrophoric element 20 are so related that quick rotation of said wheel It in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, causes a shower of sparks to be directed toward and into engagement with the exposed end of the wick II when the snufl'er cap is removed from the wick tube It.

The snuifer lever .H, on its opposite sides, has the respective pinions 2, 24a suitably secured thereto, these pinions meshing with the respective rack members 25, 25a projecting laterally from the end of a lever 26 pivoted at 21 in a pocket formed in the fuel casing wallll, saidlever 2! being suitably biased in a clockwisedirection, Fig. 3, as by the spring 28.

.The application of manual pressure to the lever 26 so as to effect movement thereof in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, causes clockwise -movement, Fig. 3, of the pinions 24, Na and the rangement, or equivalent, produces clockwise movement,.Fig. 3, of the serrated wheel I! whereby a shower of sparks are passed into engagement with the now exposed end of the wick ii to light the fuel carried thereby and producing a freely burning flame such as shown in Fig. 2. When this flame has served its intended purpose, pressure on the lever 26 may be released whereupon the spring 2| moves the same in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, to thereby cause counter-clockwise movement oi*the pinions 24, 24a and the snuiier lever ll whereby the snuifer cap is reseated upon the wick tube It to extinguish the flame and to seal said wick tube so as to prevent evaporation of fuel. During the last described movement of smaller lever ll, the above noted pawl arrangement, or equivalent, permits the serrated wheel ll to remain stationary.

In a preferred form of the invention as herein illustrated, the dimensions of the container C are such that a desired number of cigarettes A may be supported therein as illustrated in Fig. 3. Ac-

cordingly, with the combined device held with its long axis in substantially horizontal position as shown, the casing Cl may be moved in the manner hereinbefore described to open the container During such move rettes as stocked in the container, results in the production of a device which may be used in a convenient and efllcient manner as described.

Aside from the foregoing, it is of distinct importance, in connection with my invention, that the casing Cl, besides serving in the usual manner for supporting the lighter mechanism and supplying of fuel thereto, also has the important function of providing latching means for the cover of the cigarette compartment.

Further in connection with the advantages discussed immediately above, it is noted that, by my present invention, the lighter mechanism and the cigarette container, in eflect, are separate units which are connected together by the spring 8 which, if desired, may be readily removable to permit separation of said units. Obviously, with such an arrangement, if the latching function of the fuel casing Cl is not considered necessary, the spring 8 may be replaced by a simple nonresilient arrangement which connects the container and casing together and which is detachable if desired. The characteristics of the invention last discussed are of distinct importance from the manufacturing viewpoint.

Aside from the foregoing, the particular type and arrangement of the lighting mechanism presents certain obvious advantages. Furthermore, with the disclosed arrangement, the fueling operation may he proceeded with in such manner that there is little possibility of the fuel reaching the cigarettes in the cigarette compartment. Moreover, the caps I la and 28 are as conveniently located as if the lighter were a separate unit. Still further, from the viewpoint of adequate fuel capacity, it is desirable for the fuel casing to have a height substantially the same as that of thecigarette container.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it, will be understood by those skilled in the. art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in -the appended claimsto cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a cigarette container having a pivoted cover, a pyrophoric lighter having a fuel casing pivoted to the fixed section of said cigarette container, latching means cooperable between said fuel casing and said pivoted cover, and means whereby pivotal movement of said fuel casing releases said latching means.

2. In combination, a cigarette casing, a cover therefor, a hinge for said cover extending along one edge of said casing, means for biasing the hinged cover toward open position, a pyrophoric lighter extending along the edge of said casing opposite from said hinge, means for interconnecting said casing and lighter whereby the lighter may be moved to a limited extent in respect to the casing, and cooperating means on said cover and said lighter for normally retaining the cover in closed position, said means being releasable upon movement of the lighter in respect to said casing.

3. In combination, a cigarette container having a pivoted cover, a pyrophoric lighter, resilient means for interconnecting said lighter and said container whereby said lighter may be moved to a limited extent in respect to said container, cooperating means on said lighter and said cover for latching said cover in closed position, said means being releasable upon such movement of the lighter.

4. In combination, a cigarette casing, a cover therefor, means for retaining said cover in closed position, a pyrophoric lighter disposed at one end of said casing, the length of said pyrophoric light er being substantially the same as the width of a said casing, said casing and said pyrophoric lighter having flat wall surfaces disposed adjacent each other, and means mounting said lighter on said casing whereby the lighter may have limited movement with respect to the casing, said means including a connection extending from the wall surface of the pyrophoric lighter to the interior of the casing, said last named means being so constructed and arranged that movement of said pyrophoric lighter releases said retaining means.

5. A. combination lighter and container for cigarettes and the like, having casing sections pivotally connected together to form a container of the character above set forth, a lighter mechanism, means mounting said lighter mechanism upon one of said casing sections to afford limited movement of said lighter mechanism from one position to another with respect to said last mentioned casing section, said lighter mechanism having -a latching member positioned to engage another of said casing sections when the lighter mechanism is in one position, to hold said casing sections in closed relation; and said last mentioned member being movable out of engaging relation with said other casing section when the lighter mechanism is moved away from said last mentioned position, to release said casing sections for pivotal movement one with respect to the other.

LOUIS V. ARONSON. 

